Plumb-level.



' No. 689,323.4 Patenfad use. n, |901,

.|.A H. numsY.

PLUMB LEVEL.

Application med my ic, 1901.)

(lo Model.)

6mmby and is at rest.

ing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the drawings.

' or arms 5, which are provided with a central UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY QUIMBY, OF MENDHAH, NEV JERSEY.

PLUMB- LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,323, dated December 17, 1901.

Application tiled May 16, 1901. Serial No. 60,539. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN HENRY QUIMBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mendham, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Level, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to levels or clinometers which employ weighted pointers, and has for its object to provide an improved mounting of the pointer, so as to obtain great sensitiveness thereof and to obviate vibrations when the stock of the level has been adjusted It is furthermore designed to arrange for the convenient assembling and removal of the parts of the indicating mechanism and also to have the same housed in a water-tight manner, so that the level may be accurately used when submerged in water.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departadvantages of the invention.

- In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a level constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the pivotal mounting of the index. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the supports for the index.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the v Referring to the drawings, l designates the ordinary stock, preferably formedl of wood and having a central transverse circular opening 2 formed therethrough and provided with a marginal Yshoulder 3 midway between the opposite faces of the stock.

The index consists of a ring et, located midway between the opposite faces of the stock and having intersected diametric cross bars opening 6 at the point of intersection and for thel reception of the spindle 7, upon which the index-ring is mounted.. It will of course be understood that the opposite faces of the index-ring are provided with graduations in the usual manner. The spindle 7 is screw threaded and passed through the central opening of the index until stopped by the enlarged head or shoulder portion 8 striking the index, said shoulder being arranged to project the spindle equally in opposite directions beyond the index. A nut 9 is fitted to the projected screw-threaded portion of the spindleand is set up snugly against the index, so as to clamp the latter between theshoulder 8 and the nut, and thereby fix the index to the spindle. It is preferable to make the central portion of the spindle polygonal to snugly iit a corresponding polygonal opening in the index to prevent accidental turning of the index upon the spindle. The opposite ends of the spindle are provided with the conical bearingpoints or ytrunnions 1 0. j

For the rotatable support of the spindle there is provided a pair of rings 1l and l2, which tit snugly against the opposite faces of the marginal shoulder 3 and are provided with corresponding intersected diametri@ brace bars or arms v13, that are provided at their point of intersection with a screw-threaded opening 14. The ring ll is provided with a comparatively long cylindrical iiange l5, that fits snugly the concaved face of the shoulder 3 and is projected slightly beyond the opposite side thereof,with the projected end portionl externally screw-threaded. The other ring has a short cylindrical ange 16, which is internally screw-threaded and fits the projected end of the flange on the former ringsect-ion, thereby providing opposite skeleton supporting-heads which are connected by an intermediate marginal flange or band. It will be understood that the openingsin the heads lie in alinement with the spindle 7 and IOO whereby the index is rotatably supported. A suitable weight or bob 19 is connected to the central part of the skeleton index and lies snugly between the corresponding portions of iutersected cross-bars 5.

In assembling the parts the head 11 is first inserted, after which the index with its spindle is inserted through the opposite end of the opening in the stock, and then the head 12 is applied, thereby facilitating the assembling of the parts. The pointers 2O are applied tothe inner side of the cylindrical flange or band 15 prior to the positioning of the index, and the opposite pointers or lingers 2l are fitted in place after the index has been inserted into the opening prior to or after the application of the head 12.

A suitable elastic packing-ring 22 is applied against the outer side of each head member, and a glass cover 23 is placed against the packing-ring, both of these parts being held in place by means of a metallic ring 24, let in flush with the adjacent outer face of the stock and secured thereto by means of suitable fastenings 25, whereby the interior of the opening where the index is mounted is water-tight.

It is designed to obviate vibrations of the index when the stock is at rest by having the space in Whichthe index is mounted filled with alcohol or other suitable liquid through which the Weight 19 swings, and thereby brings the index to a stop nearly as soon as the stock is brought to rest. For convenience in filling the inclosed space with the liquid there is provided a filling-tube 26, which passes through alined perforations in one side of.

the stock and the lange or band 15, the outer end of the tube being within the outer face of the stock and provided with a closure-cap 27, let in flush with the outer face of the stock and provided With a screw-driver groove for convenience in applying and removing the closure. Itwill here be observed that the connection between the filling-tube andthe flange or band 15 prevents accidental rotation thereof within the opening in the stock. y

An important feature of the skeleton formation of the head member 12 is that the cross-bars 13 form handles for conveniently screwing said member upon the flange or band 15, as the outer marginal edge of the member is inaccessible when the member is within the openingin the stock. Also the skeleton formation of both head members permits of the index being seen from opposite sides of the level.

It will be understood that the pointers or fingers 2O and 21 cooperate with the graduations upon the adjacent sides of the index to indicate the inclination of the level, the index remaining normal under the influence of the weight or bob in the usual manner.

What is claimed is- 1. A level, comprising a stock having a circular opening formed therethrough, which is provided With an intermediate marginal shoulder, opposite skeleton head members lying against the opposite faces ofthe shoulder, one of the members havinga cylindrical liange tting snugly the concaved face of the shoulder, and the other head being detachably connected to the outer end of the flange, anda rotatable index journaled upon the opposite skeleton heads and located between the same, there being one or more pointers or fingers projected from the inner margin of the flange and coperating with the index. 2. A level, comprising a stock having a cir cular opening formed therethrough and provided with an intermediate marginal shoulder within the opening, opposite skeleton heads fitted against the respective faces of the marginal shoulder, each head comprising a ring and crossed diagonal brace-arms, there being a bearing device at the intersection of the arms and upon the inner side'of the head, one of the heads having a marginal liange fitting snugly the concave face of the shoulder and projected at the opposite side thereof, the projected portion being externally screwthreaded, the other head having an inter nally-screw-threaded cylindrical iange fitted tothe projected end of the former flange, and a rotatable index, having a central spindle with its opposite ends mounted upon the re spective bearings of the heads.

3. A level, comprising a stock having an opening formed therethrough, a rotatable index mounted within the opening, and having a central spindle projected at opposite sides thereof, opposite supports comprising intersected arms the points of intersection being alined with the spindle, and adjustable journal-bearings at the points of intersection of the arms and supporting the opposite terminals of the spindle.

4. A level, comprising a stock having an opening formed therethrough, a rotatable in; dex mounted therein,and provided with an oppositely-projected journal, opposite skeleton supports having corresponding screw-thread- IOO ed openings alined with the spindle of the i index, and externally-sorew-threaded bear-i ing devices adj ustably fitted in the openings of the respective supports and constructed for the support of the opposite terminals of the spindle.

5. In a level, the combination with a stock having an opening formed therethrough, of a glass-faced Water-tight casing fitted Within the opening, a rotatable index mounted within the casing,and aillingtube passed through the stock and the casing and forming a fastening to prevent accidental displacement of the latter, the outer end of the tube having a closure which is liush with the outer face of the stock. 6. In a level, the combination with a stock having a circular opening formed therethrough, which opening 'has an intermediate marginal shoulder, of opposite skeleton heads fitted against the opposite sides of the shoulder and each comprising a ring and diamet ric brace-bars that are provided at their point of intersection with a screw-threaded opening, one of the rings having a cylindrical ange fitting snugly the concaved face of the shoulder and projected at the opposite side thereof, the projected portion being exteriorly screwthreaded, and the other head having a cylindrical flange detachably fitted to the screw-threaded portion of the former ange, externally screw threaded bearingplugs adjustably fitted in the openings in the respective heads and provided with inner terminal conical sockets or seats, a circular index located between the heads and having a central perforatioma spindleinserted through the perforation and projected in opposite directions therefrom, there being a shoulder upon the spindle and lying against the index, the opposite portion of the spindle being screw-threaded, and its terminals provided with conical trunnions mounted in the seats or sockets of the bearing-plugs, a nu't applied to the threaded portion of the spindle and against the index, pointers or fingers projected from the inner margin of the firstmentioned cylindrical fiange and cooperating Withthe index, packing-rings applied to the outer sides of the heads, opposite glass covers applied against the rings, and a fastening-ring secured to each side ofthe stock and overlapping the adjacent glass cover, and a lling-tube piercing one side of the stock and thevadjacent side of the cylindrical ange, the outer end thereof having a removable closure flush with the outer face of the stock.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN HENRY QUIMBY. Witnesses:

WM. C. QUIMBY, H. D. BOWMAN. 

